The Magical Sites of Avalon
Base chakra
GOG AND MAGOG
The base chakra represents our physical presence in the world. A relationship
is indicated between what is 'inside' and what is 'outside'. Here, there
is two of everything. Gog and Magog, Wonderful Trees, where two ends meet
and the circle is complete. Ever unto me!
Genital chakra
WICK HOLLOW
The genital chakra is involved with how our presence as physical beings
is (or is not) charged with life energy. This is most clearly experienced
by us through our sexuality, both in relationship to ourselves and to others.
The safest sex is in the magic of inspiration, the touch of imagination
and the tongue of initiation. Ever unto life!
Solar plexus chakra
THE TOR
The solar plexus chakra is involved with the dynamic relationship within
us between manifesting polarities. This is usually experienced as the chatter,
or inner dialogue, between our thinking and feeling functions. This centre
is concerned with our responses to the experience of polarities. Ever unto
them!
Heart chakra
CHALICE HILL
The heart chakra is the natural home of our incarnating, immanent soul.
Through turning off the chatter of the internal dialogue, we come to the
heart of our matter. On a heart level we are working with the manifestation
of archetypal energies in our lives. Ever unto us!
Throat chakra
THE ABBEY
The throat chakra concerns the link between the universal and the particular
and when open manifests through the clear expression of joy. The throat
chakra is about the relationship between inside and outside, specifically
about how we are communicating to the outside world. Words of power open
and close access to the magic mirror. Ever unto spirit!
Third eye chakra
WEARYALL HILL
The mid-head chakra, when activated, is the divine presence of the seer,
in touch with the source of our awareness, and able to see its manifestation.The
mid head chakra is about how we are connecting with our inspiration, our
illumination, the deeper sense of spirit inside us and how we work with
that inner dynamic. Ever unto Beyond!
Crown chakra
BRIDES MOUND
The crown chakra, the access point to freedom, is both within and without
manifestation. The crown chakra is about the relationship with the divine
presence. Bride's Mound is located near the sewage works which reminds us
of the esoteric truth: as above so below. The mother earth goddess, the
father sky god, the creative sky goddess, the creative earth god. Ever unto
me!
'And did those feet in ancient time
Walk upon England's mountains green?
And was the holy lamb of God
On England's pleasant pastures seen?'
William Blake
William Blake's poem 'Jerusalem' from which the above quote is taken, was
inspired by Glastonbury. In her excellent guide to Glastonbury entitled
'Glastonbury, Maker of Myths', Frances Howard-Gordon says: 'Glastonbury,
the ancient Isle of Avalon, is known throughout the world as a holy shrine,
an ancient sanctuary, a sacred centre overflowing with history, myths and
legends.' With its many mysterious sites, Christian, Pagan, Celtic, Druid,
Arthurian, and Zodiacal associations, this is a fair description. Past residents
in Glastonbury have included no less that Joseph of Arimethea, who may have
brought Jesus here in his missing adolescent years, St Patrick, the Patron
Saint of Ireland, King Arthur and Guinevere, who graves were found by mediaeval
monks, St Bridget, Dion Fortune, the acclaimed occultist and Qabalist and
many more.
Current residents (around 9000 people) include many healers, therapists,
occultists, mystics, new agers, musicians and authors. There is a festival
of music, culture and dance held in sight of the Tor that attracts more
than a hundred thousand people every year; Christian pilgrimages; an international
dance festival; children's festival, a carnival with many tens of thousands
of people lining the streets; and much more.
There is another side to Glastonbury, to; the place that its residents call
home, a lovely little town in rural England with a weekly market, local
politic concerns, work and play days, and life to be lived on a day to day
basis. All in all Glastonbury is unique, and both grand and ordinary at
the same time.
There are several links on our links
page to Glastonbury web sites which offer a wealth of further information
about Glastonbury, its history, legends, myths and what is currently available.
There are many different versions of how the landscape features of Glastonbury
have a mystical and magical meaning. Perhaps the best known is the Glastonbury
Zodiac discovered by Kate Maltwood in the middle of the last century. It
is almost unbelievable until you live here and walk the sites that laid
out in a vast environmental temple create a circle of zodiac signs marked
out in the land by both natural and human-made features. The Isle of Glastonbury
itself can be seen as shaped like a swan or an old hag on a broomstick or
both. It also forms the Aquarius symbol in the landscape zodiac. If you
want to know more about the mysteries of Glastonbury, the book 'Isle of
Avalon' by Nicholas Mann is the one we particularly recommend.
One interesting feature we have noticed is that seven of the main sacred
sites in Glastonbury form a serpent shape on the landscape, and the sites
are then found to correspond (by their names, nature and functions) with
the Chakras or energy centres in the human body (see right side bar). Perhaps
this isn't so strange when Glastonbury as a whole has been located by some
ancient traditions as being the heart chakra of the planet!
If you visit Glastonbury, we would recommend you to spend some of your time
away from the new age shops, bookshops, and other activities in town, and
walk the land, enjoying some of these sites. Most Glastonbury guidebooks
will show you the locations of these sites.
Incidentally, my first website back in 1995 had Glastonbury Tor in its banner
just like now. I still like the image:
© Will Parfitt 2006 (v7.1)